A teenager who created a ‘bucket list’ before potentially lifesaving spinal surgery has been honoured for her bravery by her comedy heroes.

Scoliosis sufferer Jacqueline Jaskowicz - who has shared her experiences on a YouTube video diary - drew up a list of things she’d like to do before having an operation at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital to straighten her ’S’ shaped spine.

Left untreated, the 15-year-old's spine may have affected major organs including her lungs and heart.

The Stokesley school pupil, from Great Ayton, said she had watched the accounts of fellow teenagers online who had undergone the operation, one of whom was left paralysed.

“In case that happened I thought ‘I want to do things’," she said. “I was really scared.”

It is extremely rare for scoliosis surgery to leave a patient paralysed however there are a multitude of other risks including nerve damage, blood loss and clots and lung complications.

Jacqueline’s bucket list included feeding her favourite animals such as a penguin and a lemur, climbing the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey and scaling local landmark Roseberry Topping

Thankfully, the nine-hour operation went well and Jacqueline shocked doctors by making swift strides in recovery.

She was back home after just four days.

Now the teenager - who loves comedy - has been honoured with Stokesley School’s Jopling Award for Triumph over Adversity, presented by comedian and former pupil Patrick Monahan.

After seeing her YouTube diary, which has had more than 2,000 hits, her other comedy favourite Jason Manford has also invited her to meet him and see him perform.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

The scoliosis diagnosis came as a huge shock to Jacqueline and her parents Maggie, 37, and Bobby, 48.

She’d gone to the GP after suffering from headaches and was referred to James Cook.

It was there that doctors picked up a problem with her spine.

Maggie said: “It was a bit of a shock as she’s always been fine and had never really had anything wrong with her.

“To walk in and get diagnosed with scoliosis, and for them to say that they thought she needed surgery, was just a bolt out of the blue.

“It certainly took a bit of adjusting to.”

“I just started to cry,” says Jacqueline.

She was booked in for the operation a day before her 15th birthday in July.

Jacqueline said: “I said it would be the best birthday present ever - just to have a straight spine.”

Maggie, who works for the family company Jasko Construction, said: “They said that her curve was going towards her heart and lungs and if it got really bad it could collapse her lungs and stop her heart.”

Jacqueline, who has siblings Darren, 27, Stacey, 25 and Archie, nine, said: “We didn’t want to take that chance.”

She has now been told she must avoid sports for a year - including her main hobby karate in which she is only one “tag” away from being a black belt.

The teenager has also had to relearn everyday actions such as tying shoelaces as the operation has left her unable to touch her toes.